The proposed Almaden Ranch Retail Center, to be located at the intersection of Almaden Expressway and State Route 85 in San Jose, is causing concerns among residents, who fear increased traffic, air pollution and noise.

A bent blue folder on the third floor of the city council tower struggles to hold over 150 emails, memos, suggestions and letters in place, and this is only from a two-week period in August. Most say the same thing—stop Almaden Ranch.

The city plans to rezone the 43.5-acre site, allowing construction of up to 400,000 square feet of commercial space. Current draft plans show 16 retail stores with the inclusion of one big-box chain store, although no leases have been signed. Also included in the project is a plan to extend Cherry Avenue to connect with the north end of Sanchez Drive. Continue Reading >>